Lincoln  Monument 
Dedication  Poem 


By  JAMES  JUDSON  LORD.^; 


LINCOLN  ROOM 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 
LIBRARY 

presented  by 


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Lincoln  Monument 
Dedication  Poem 


By  JAMES   JUDSON   LORD 


Delivered  at  Oak  Ridge  Cemetery 

Springfield,    Illinois 

October  15 

1874 


Illustrated  by  W.  Jerome  Willoughby 


Copyright  by 
JAMES  JUDSON  LORD 


JUinois  Printing  Co 

Danville,  111. 

1907 


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We  build  not  here  a  temple  or  a  shrine, 
Nor  hero-jane  to  demigods  divine ; 
Nor  to  the  clouds  a  superstructure  rear 
For  man's  ambition  or  for  servile  fear. 
Not  to  the  Dust,  but  to  the  Deeds  alone 
A  grateful  people  raise  th'  historic  stone; 
For  where  a  patriot  lived,  or  hero  fell, 
The  daisied  turf  would  mark  the  spot  as  ivell. 


What  though  the  Pyramids,  with  apex  high, 

Like  Alpine  peaks  cleave  Egypt's  rainless  sky, 

And  cast  grim  shadows  o'er  a  desert  land 

Forever  blighted  by  oppression's  hand? 

No  patriot  zeal  their  deep  foundations  laid — 

No  freeman  s  hand  their  darken'd  chambers  inade- 

No  pidilic  iveal  inspired  the  licart  -with  love, 

To  see  their  summits  toiv'ring  high  above. 


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The  ntling  PharaoJi,  proud  and  gory-stained, 

With  vain  ambitions  never  yet  attained; — 

With  brow  enclouded  as  his  marble  throne, 

And  heart  unyielding  as  the  building  stone; — 

Sought  with  the  scourge  to  make  mankind  his  slaves, 

And  heaven's  free  sunlight  darker  than  their  graves. 

His  but  to  will,  and  theirs  to  yield  and  feel, 

Like  vermin'd  dust  beneath  his  iron  heel; — 

Denies  all  mercy,  and  all  right  offends, 

Till  on  his  head  tk"  avenging  Plague  descends. 


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Historic  justice  bids  the  iuUi<>iis  kuoiv 

That  through  each  land  of  slaves  a  Nile  of  blood  shall  floiv: 

And  Vcndome  Columns,  on  a  people  thrust, 

Are,  by  the  people,  level' d  ivith  the  dust. 


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Nor  stone,  nor  bronze,  can  fit  memorials  yield 

For  deeds  of  valor  on  the  bloody  field, 

'Neath  ivar's  dark  clouds  the  sturdy  volunteer, 

By  freedom  taught  his  country  to  revere, 

Bids  home  and  friends  a  hasty,  sad  adieu, 

A  nd  treads  ivhere  dangers  all  his  steps  pursue; 

Finds  cold  and  famine  on  his  dauntless  ivay. 

And  with  mute  patience  brooks  the  long  delay. 

Or  hears  the  trumpet,  or  the  thrilling  drum 

Peal  the  long  roll  that  calls:  '  'They  come!  they  come!" 

Then  to  the  front  with  battling  hosts  he  flies. 

And  lives  to  triumph,  or  for  freedom  dies. 


Thundering  amain  along  the  rocky  strand. 
The  Ocean  claims  her  honors  ivith  the  Land. 
Loud  on  the  gale  she  chimes  the  wild  refrain, 
Or  with  low  murmur  tvails  her  heroes  slain! 
In  gory  hulks,  ivith  splintered  mast  and  spar. 
Rocks  on  her  stormy  breast  the  valiant  Tar: — 
Lash'd  to  the  mast  he  gives  the  high  command. 
Or  midst  the  fight,  sinks  ivith  the  Cumberland. 


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Beloved  banner  of  the  azure  sky, 
Thy  righijtd  home  where'er  thy  eagles  fly; 
On  thy  blue  fields  the  stars  of  heavn  descend. 
And  to  our  day  a  piircr  luster  lend. 


O,  Righlcoits  (Jod!  Who  guard' st  the  right  alicay. 
And  bade  Thy  peace  to  come,  '\vid  come  to  stay. 
And  ivhile  'war's  deluge  fill'd  the  land  ivith  blood. 
With  boiv  of  promise  arch'd  the  crimson  flood, — 
From  fratricidal  strife  our  banner  screen, 
And  lei  it  jloat  henceforth  in  skies  serene. 


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F^i  cunning  art  shall  here  her  triumphs  bring, 
And  laurel' d  bards  their  choicest  anthems  sing. 
Here,  honored  age  shall  bare  its  wintry  broiv, 
And  youth  to  freedom  make  a  Spartan  vow. 
Here,  ripen'd  manhood  from  its  ivalks  prof  on  nJ, 
Shall  come  and  halt,  as  if  on  hallozcd  ground. 
Here  shall  the  urn  with  fragrant  wreaths  be  drest. 
By  tender  Jiaiuls  the  flow'ry  tributes  prest; 
And  wending  westward,  from  oppressions  far, 
Shall  pilgrims  come  led  by  our  freedom-star ; 
While  bending  lowly;  o'er  friendly  pall. 
The  silent  tear  from  ebon  cheeks  shall  fall. 


Sterile  and  vain  the  tributes  which  we  pay — 

It  is  the  Past  that  consecrates  to-day 

The  spot  li'here  rests  one  of  the  noble  feiv 

Who  saw  the  right,  and  dared  the  right  to  do. 

True  to  himself  and  to  liis  felloiv  men, 

With  patient  hand  he  moved  tlic  potent  pen, 

Whose  inky  stream  diil,  like  the  Red  sea's  fiozv, 

Such  bondage  break  and  such  a  host  overthrow! 

The  simple  parchment  on  its  jh'cting  page 

Bespeaks  the  import  of  the  better  age, — 

When  man,  for  man.  no  more  shall  forge  the  chain. 

Nor  armies  tread  the  shore,  nor  navies  ploiv  the  main. 


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Then  shall  this  Unvi  to  Iiuman  freedom  given 
Be  fitly  deem\i  a  sacred  gift  of  heaven; — 
Though  of  the  earth,  it  is  no  less  divine, — 
Founded  on  truth  it  will  forever  shine, 
Reflecting  rays  from  the  heaven  s  unchanging  plan — 
The  lazv  of  right  and  brotherhood  of  man. 

James  Jiulso>i  Lord. 


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